CDT: Penn State's state-of-the-art academic center for student-athletes (video)

[BobPSU92]

See the link. Looks pretty nice. Note "Success With Honor" on the wall.

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/article85256802.html

I hate our culture.

 

[Art]

$7mm+ doesn't buy much these days.

 

[Raffycorn]

$7mm+ doesn't buy much these days.

Does that include however much it cost to remove the ice facilities from the building and the subsequent remodeling of the former rink space to make the space usable? I imagine that wouldn't be cheap.

 

[Art]

Does that include however much it cost to remove the ice facilities from the building and the subsequent remodeling of the former rink space to make the space usable? I imagine that wouldn't be cheap.

Shouldn't cost that much. Perhaps Phil can chime in.

 

[hlstone]

I think it's impressive. I like the graduation rate 88% is great!

 

[JoeBatters1]

See the link. Looks pretty nice. Note "Success With Honor" on the wall.

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/article85256802.html

I hate our culture.

Another reason to thank Coach Paterno - he made it all possible.

 

[Art]

I think it's impressive. I like the graduation rate 88% is great!

It's less than 88%, but thanks to the NCAA for allowing all universities to inflate it.

 

[CF LION]

$7mm+ doesn't buy much these days.

It's really just a tenant fit-out project. Looking at the photos it's not high end FF&E, so $7.2M sounds about right.

 

[Art]

It's really just a tenant fit-out project. Looking at the photos it's not high end FF&E, so $7.2M sounds about right.

A couple of friends who are developers told me that universities generally get reamed out the other side on their capital projects. PSU seems to be a member of that club.

 

[BobPSU92]

I'm loving all the negativity. All we're missing is Barry's conjecture on how bloated the Morgan Academic Center staffing is and the annual cost to run it.

MORE. OUTRAGE. PLEASE.

 

[Chris92]

Excellent. Where would be without Freeh Recommendation 5.4?

 

[step.eng69]

See the link. Looks pretty nice. Note "Success With Honor" on the wall.

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/article85256802.html

I hate our culture.

Thanks for the link Bob...my negative critique:

the video should have focused not panned first on the "Success With Honor" then played the rest of the scenes and near the end viewed the "WE ARE" w/success rates and ended with a three second shot of "Success With Honor".

 

[Art]

I'm loving all the negativity. All we're missing is Barry's conjecture on how bloated the Morgan Academic Center staffing is and the annual cost to run it.

MORE. OUTRAGE. PLEASE.

Okay, space for 800, seating for 325-50, but they never have that many. So why build/furnish something that big?

 

[Steve G]

See the link. Looks pretty nice. Note "Success With Honor" on the wall.

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/article85256802.html

I hate our culture.

my response to this is "what resources are available to the non athletes on campus?" Why do scholarship athletes require so much additional academic support?? Sort of obviates the whole student athlete concept, if they cannot succeed academically without so much additional support. My son grew up with a kid who he swam competitively with. The kid got a scholarship to swim at same school my son attends, very competitive college. The swimmer is a very nice kid, but without the swimming would never ever be in that school and they have all these resources to support their academic efforts just like pictured here, including unlimited tutors and what could only be considered remedial classes and other resources not available to the general student body.

 

[CF LION]

A couple of friends who are developers told me that universities generally get reamed out the other side on their capital projects. PSU seems to be a member of that club.

This is true, when comparing to private sector construction. Lots of reasons from my experience in college construction projects (none at Penn State):

1. Conforming to a campus vernacular, which can limit options.
2. Locking into approved vendors which can stifle competition.
3. Construction schedules that must conform to an academic calendar.
4. Colleges tend to be more into green construction techniques that add tot he construction cost.
5. A university markets their facilities to attract students. Pretty lipstick costs money.

Etc, etc, etc

 

[BobPSU92]

Okay, space for 800, seating for 325-50, but they never have that many. So why build/furnish something that big?

That's good. Keep it coming!

 

[step.eng69]

That's good. Keep it coming!

LOL seems like you stepped on one of Art's foot corns

 

[BlueBand]

Okay, space for 800, seating for 325-50, but they never have that many. So why build/furnish something that big?

We have what, about 31 athletic teams? Something like around 700 student athletes. That means seating for only about half of them at any given time.

Never thought I'd see the day people were complaining about spending money on ACADEMICS for student athletes. Didn't that used to be a point of pride?

 

[Art]

We have what, about 31 athletic teams? Something like around 700 student athletes. That means seating for only about half of them at any given time.

Never thought I'd see the day people were complaining about spending money on ACADEMICS for student athletes. Didn't that used to be a point of pride?

Excuse me. The director of the Center mentioned that they don't get as many as 350 at one time and the building can accommodate 800.

Spending money on a facility that will only be partially used is not spending money on academics even if the building is nominally an "academic center."

 

[Art]

If I recall correctly, there are a few academic centers around campus for student athletes. BTW, I thought that having a few smaller centers around campus made perfect sense. Does anyone know if they are planning on repurposing any of these or is this Morgan thing just more of the same?

Mushinsky's remarks confirm your understanding of multiple locations. Further, I get the impression that they are consolidating in one location. Can't comment on whether that is good or bad.

 

[BobPSU92]

We have what, about 31 athletic teams? Something like around 700 student athletes. That means seating for only about half of them at any given time.

Never thought I'd see the day people were complaining about spending money on ACADEMICS for student athletes. Didn't that used to be a point of pride?

Remember, Penn State does nothing well now. Do yourself a favor and BE. OUTRAGED.

 

[BlueBand]

Excuse me. The director of the Center mentioned that they don't get as many as 350 at one time and the building can accommodate 800.

Spending money on a facility that will only be partially used is not spending money on academics even if the building is nominally an "academic center."

I can't watch the video now, I'm at work. Maybe they anticipate more usage with a new facility and everything under one roof (and connected to the football facility).

Maybe they needed to consolidate, and choices on where to consolidate were limited (without going further east and off the main campus), and Greenberg gave them more room than thet needed, but was the best option. It's not like they spent top dollar with over the top finishes. It's nice but it's not completely over the top.